Sammie Szmodics says winning the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award for December is another confidence booster.

The in-form Colchester United midfielder, who is the club's leading goalscorer with 12 goals, fought off competition from Morecambe striker Callum Lang, Matt Rhead of Lincoln City and Luton Town defender Alan Sheehan to scoop the monthly award.

Szmodics was in excellent form last month, scoring five goals for the U's last month and also providing an assist.

“It’s brilliant to be spoken about and to get this award,” said the former Braintree Town loanee, who is hoping to return to Colchester’s starting line-up at Wycombe Wanderers tomorrow after missing their defeat against Cheltenham Town because of fatigue.

“I’m over the moon to have won it and it’s another confidence booster.

“It’s nice to be recognised throughout the whole of the EFL.

“I’ve had so many injury problems in the past but that’s all been brushed under the carpet.

“They’re behind me now and all I’m doing now is looking to the future.

“I’m working hard on the training field and it’s coming off on the pitch.”

Szmodics admits it is flattering to be linked with a move to the Premier League – but insists his focus remains on helping his home town club Colchester win promotion.

The 22-year-old attacker’s future has been the subject of speculation, with the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Middlesbrough and Millwall all linked with the U’s leading scorer in this month’s transfer window.

Szmodics admits he would love to test himself at a higher level.

But the former Stanway School pupil has stressed all he is thinking about for the time being is performing well for the U’s.

Szmodics said: “Like any young player, I’d love to push myself and throw myself in at the deep end at Premier League or Championship level.

“But right now, my only focus is Colchester United.

“I’m contracted here for another year and a half to two years and the top-three is the target.

“The play-offs is the least we expect but we’re all going for automatic promotion.

“I don’t take any notice of all of the speculation.

“I’m a Colchester player and I just want to keep playing well for Colchester and keep getting minutes under my belt and scoring goals – the future will write itself.

“I see things on Twitter – some are true and some are false.

“There’s people off the pitch like agents and people at the club who deal with all of that, so I’m just concentrating on playing my football, scoring my goals and getting Colchester promoted.

“It’s nice to be spoken about and when I see my name all over Twitter and people saying Premier League and Championship teams are going to bid for me, it’s a dream come true for any player.

“I’ve been at Colchester all my life and to see anything like that – true or false – it’s good press.

“But I’m a Colchester player but my main goal is to keep scoring goals and to get us promoted.”

Colchester head coach John McGreal missed out on the Manager of the Month award for December after it was won by Lincoln City boss, Danny Cowley.